Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas united yesterday in the Hamptons to conduct a defensive-oriented basketball clinic for kids.

Today, the dynamic duo begin making the Knicks more of a defensive-oriented team. Brown said he hopes to meet with some free agents, admitting he prefers defense-first guys.

The Knicks want another big man and one Brown-like player is Seattle’s rugged free agent power forward Reggie Evans, the league’s leader in rebounds per minute. The Knicks have given away their mid-level exception to Seattle center Jerome James, whom they’ll introduce Tuesday, so they’d need a sign-and-trade.

Other defensive free-agent bigs are Dale Davis, whom Brown coached in Indiana, and center Elden Campbell. Both could be had for either the lower exception ($1.7M) or veteran’s minimum ($1M). The chances of a sign-and-trade with Chicago for free-agents Eddy Curry or Tyson Chandler are remote.

“Some coaches believe we need offensive players out on the court to be successful,” Brown said after completing the Hoops 4 Hope charity clinic that donates used sneakers to Africa. “I don’t necessarily buy into that. I always figure out a way if you get stops, you’ll create easy baskets.”

Brown heads to Southern California early next week because his son will participate in Michael Jordan’s basketball camp. He’ll meet with Stephon Marbury, who is holed up in L.A., Trevor Ariza and possibly some free agents.

“We got to always try to get better,” Thomas said. “Guys we have will be inspired and motivated to play by him. It’s like when you’re a science student and you get to sit in on an Einstein lecture. You get up for that.”

Thomas knows improvement is needed on last season’s defensive nightmare.

“I’ve never been associated with a bad defensive team,” Thomas said. “This was my first experience.”

Brown said Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Tim Thomas and Ariza have potential to be excellent defenders.

“Stephon physically, if he can do the things I’ve seen him to do on offense, he ought to be able to do it defensively,” Brown said. “Same thing you can say about Jamal.”

Since Jeff Van Gundy left, the Knicks have disgraced the storied jersey on defense.

“I don’t know what they did in practice and what the demands were,” Brown said.

Brown indicated Marbury could be moved occasionally to shooting guard and made clear what he lacks. “Superstars make other players around him better and win games,” Brown said. “I think he has the ability to do that.”

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Brown has not given up on still-rehabbing Allan Houston. Thomas will wait to training camp to decide Houston’s future.

“In his heart he feels he can come back,” Brown said. “It would be a huge plus for us.”